Story quests in Genshin Impact typically come in the form of character highlights where developers introduce a quest intending to popularize a character or help with their development. They're also one of the reasons why characters in Genshin Impact are all so interesting. Each one of them is bound to get their own introductory questline with several acts.
However, some of them are more enjoyable than others, either due to a character's quirks or how their quest is structured. Sadly, the majority of these quests tend to require Story Keys to unlock, and those can only be obtained through Daily Commissions. Also, you can only stock up to three of those keys. So when it comes to prioritizing story quests, it is recommended to pick the best and most memorable ones such as these.
Updated March 29, 2022, by Sid Natividad: Genshin Impact is killing it with all the updates and events right now. One of the latest came in the form of the nation of Inazuma. Once the huge new locale dropped on top of the existing game world, the player base was swarmed with new stories like a proverbial tsunami.
Of course, along with those stories came the Story Quests, or as they are more often called character quests. They're the perfect opportunity for you to appreciate the playable characters better. They also add tons of stuff to do; these are thematically apt depending on the character the quest is about. With this in mind, we've extended our list.
With new content and characters on the horizon, it's high time to tally up the best Genshin story quests once more. A lot has happened in the past months, especially in Inazuma.
20/20 Rise Up, Golden Soul - Arataki Itto
- Requires Adventure Rank 40
- Requires finishing Chapter 2: Act 3 - Omnipresence Over Mortals
- Requires finishing Dracaena Somnolenta Chapter: Act 1 - Warriors' Dreams Like Spring Grass Renewing
Arataki Itto came as quite a surprise in the meta. Thanks to his solid DPS role, he quickly became one of the most sought-after Geo characters. And, of course, that six-pack and rebellious behavior did him quite a favor. His Story Quest shed some light on his nature and place in Inazuma.
His life has been of constant struggle due to his being an Oni or a literal demon hybrid in Inazuma. This quest is more anime compared to others since it features a sibling rivalry with Itto battling his true nature while also trying to rehabilitate a long-lost brother.
19/20 The Great Narukami Offering - Yae Miko
- Requires Adventure Rank 40
- Requires finishing Chapter 2: Act 3 - Omnipresence Over Mortals
- Requires finishing Imperatrix Umbrosa Chapter 1: Act 2 - Transient Dreams
Yae Miko's Story Quest is one of the more dialogue-heavy events in Genshin Impact but you can easily forgive that since she has a long and detailed history and contribution to Inazuma. It's mostly Yae Miko's administrative stuff as she starts off her introductory quest with a newly published book.
The quest quickly transcends into Yae's reunion with some ancient friends whom she had had a connection with long before she even became an important figurehead in Inazuma's development. It's a bit light on the combat, but any Yae Miko fan will surely appreciate all the banter.
18/20 Warriors' Dreams Like Spring Grass Renewing - Sangonomiya Kokomi
- Requires Adventure Rank 40
- Requires finishing Chapter 2: Act 3 - Omnipresence Over Mortals
- Requires finishing Imperatrix Umbrosa Chapter 1: Act 1 - Reflections of Mortality
Sangonomiya Kokomi is one busybody. That much was revealed in her rather frantic Story Quest, where she attends to some administrative and military matters. It turns out the general of the Sangonomiya rebellion has her own doubts and insecurities.
At the same time, the quest gives Kokomi yet again another chance to flex her strategic mind. She even managed to prevent another war from erupting by hitting two birds with one stone, making a deal with Kujou Sara, and resolving the infighting between her troops.
17/20 Reflections of Mortality - Raiden Shogun
- Requires Adventure Rank 40
- Requires finishing Chapter 2: Act 3 - Omnipresence Over Mortals
With Raiden Shogun as an Archon, her Story Quest automatically had to be interesting. Sure enough, Reflections of Mortality was an epilogue of redemption for the troubled Ei as she wrestles with her sister's dream of Eternity for Inazuma while attending to the wellbeing of the actual Inazumans.
To do this, she had to essentially walk out of her dimly lit room and touch the grass outside her home. Her interaction with the day-to-day lives of Inazuma's citizens painted her in a positive light and humanized her - something Inazuma sorely needed.
16/20 Transient Dreams - Raiden Shogun
- Requires Adventure Rank 40
- Requires finishing Imperatrix Umbrosa Chapter 1: Act 1
- Requires finishing Chapter 2: Act 3 - Omnipresence Over Mortals
Transient Dreams was by far the most confusing and epic out of all the personal Archon Story Quests. Here, Ei's continued struggle to reform her rule was met with resistance by none other than the remnants of the past - her very own defiant inner manifestation.
Ei had to delve into the depths of her consciousness through the Sakura Tree and fight with what remained of the previous Raiden Shogun so she can make some progressive changes to Inazuma's policies. At the same time, this quest also introduced an imposing new boss that represented the Raiden Shogun at the height of her power.
15/20 Dreamlike Timelessness - Yoimiya
- Requires Adventure Rank 30
- Requires finishing Chapter 2 Act 1: The Immovable God and the Eternal Euthymia
Yoimiya's quest is a tale of revolt and espionage. She's one of the key characters in the Inazuma rebellion. Yoimiya smuggles Vision users outside the nation if required and also teaches them some much-needed survival skills.
That sounds like an ordeal not fit for someone her age. She ought to be enjoying her life more, which is why Dreamlike Timelessness also rewards Yoimiya with a small respite - a semblance of normalcy in an oppressive and dire time. The cherry on top is a dreamy light show that entrances the Pyro character as well as the Traveler and shows Yoimiya's love of and skill at creating fireworks.
14/20 The Whispers of the Crane and the White Rabbit - Ayaka
- Requires Adventure Rank 30
- Requires finishing Chapter 2 Act 1: The Immovable God and the Eternal Euthymia
In contrast to Yoimiya's life of strife, Ayaka enjoyed a comfortable and privileged noblewoman upbringing. However, she's not without struggle, as Ayaka spent most of her life serving her clan and also perfecting their art.
Hence, much of this Story Quest can often feel like a date or Hangout Event with Ayaka. There's not much combat and the quest is heavy on story, which is a refreshing change of scenery considering how hostile Inazuma can be once you've set foot on its beaches. The Story Quest's end culminates in Ayaka's show of artistic skill.
13/20 The Meaning of Lupical - Razor
- Requires Adventure Rank 21
- Requires finishing Prologue Act 3: Song of the Dragon and Freedom
- Requires finishing Lepus Chapter Act 1: Wind, Courage, and Wings
Speaking of struggles during upbringing, not many characters can survive what Razor went through in Mondstadt. He's the resident wild-child of Genshin Impact and was literally raised by wolves. That premise alone is interesting enough. It's similar to the founding of Rome, except one of the brothers got lightning superpowers instead of establishing an empire.
To that end, the Story Quest establishes the wolf-boy as one of the more interesting underdogs of Genshin Impact (no pun intended). Everything from his speech patterns to his circle of friends as was shown in his Story Quest and made Razor a memorable figure.
12/20 True Treasure - Klee
- Requires Adventure Rank 32
- Requires One Story Key
- Requires finishing Noctua Chapter Act 1: Darknight Hero's Alibi
- Requires finishing Lupus Minor Chapter Act 1: The Meaning of Lupical
While on the topic of Razor's friends, Klee is one of his best and her Story Quest isn't much different in theme compared to Razor. Like the wolf-boy, Klee is also a bit of a firebrand except in a cannonball bubblegum form that will likely blow your head off if you so much as unwrap it.
In any case, Klee's Story Quest is a fun ride detailing how Mondstadt is always on the brink of an unintended terror attack thanks to Klee's bombs. The endearing part is that the Knights of Favonius do their best to take care of Klee and steer her away from her more cluelessly destructive urges. She's proven to be even harder to babysit than Razor.
11/20 Mondstadt Gastronomy Trip - Xiangling
- Requires Adventure Rank 13
One of the joys of experiencing Genshin Impact for the first time is the expansive feeling that the game has a lot more to offer. Mondstadt and its Germanic characters were impressive enough then along came a girl with an Oriental-sounding name: Xiangling.
She was aptly introduced in her own Story Quest which is nothing more than a cooking and food trip. However, Xiangling's presence itself foretold bigger things to come in Genshin Impact, such as Liyue looming ever so mysteriously on the horizon. Xiangling and her story quest thus came to represent Genshin Impact's cultural diversity.
10/20 Secret Pirate Treasure – Kaeya
- Requires Adventure Rank Five
Kaeya is likely the first interesting and clever character you'll encounter in Genshin Impact. His quest comes in as early as Adventure Rank Five. There's no need to reserve some Story Keys for him, either. When it comes to introductions, Kaeya makes it so that you'll involuntarily remember him.
Kaeya tricks the Traveler (and Paimon) into revealing a pirate operation while also simultaneously showing off his wits. After this questline, it's easy to see how Kaeya became the Cavalry Captain. It's also what sold many players on giving him a slot in their party during the early game.
9/20 Master's Day Off – Jean
- Requires Adventure Rank 34
- Requires One Story Key
- Requires finishing Trifolium Chapter Act 1: True Treasure
Most people see Jean sitting at her desk, toiling away her life fixing mundane problems in Mondstadt. She certainly deserves a reward for her hard work, and thankfully, her story quest gives that to her.
It's not often Genshin Impact gives quests that focus on making a character's day special; consequently, Jean getting a rare day off with a buffet and her friends to boot is a heartwarming sight. It resonates well with many underappreciated or underpaid workaholics.
8/20 Beyond This World's Stars – Mona
- Requires Adventure Rank 38
- Requires One Story Key
- Requires finishing Trifolium Chapter Act 1: True Treasure
Mona is quite a curious character in Genshin Impact since, despite being skilled at her job, she's nearly bankrupt. Her quest thus makes her a relatable character, especially when compared to the more carefree and fiercely competitive figures in the game.
The highlight of the quest is Mona's desperate yet hilarious situation when Paimon orders too much food that the financially struggling astrologist will be paying for. While the game does seem to poke fun at Mona's financial disposition, it ends on a light note by giving the character some lodgings.
7/20 Traveler Observation Report – Albedo
- Requires Adventure Rank 40
- Requires One Story Key
- Requires finishing Prologue Act 2: For a Tomorrow Without Tears
Cryptic messages tend to have some deeper meanings as the game's plot progresses, and Albedo's story quest contains a big one. It's pretty standard as far as character quests go, featuring lots of dialogue and occasional combat; however, Albedo says a lot about his and Mondstadt's future.
Albedo hints that he's a different kind of creature compared to the Traveler and that someday, he might destroy Mondstadt. That alone was enough to spawn tons of fan theories and establish Albedo's presence in Mondstadt ambiguous. Heck of a way to introduce a new character.
6/20 The Spindrift Shall Never Return to the Sea – Eula
- Requires Adventure Rank 40
- Requires One Story Key
- Requires finishing Prologue Act 3: Song of the Dragon and Freedom
Speaking of notorious characters, Eula is the latest in line for controversy. Her family was once tyrannical, and there were many ways the developers could have handled her story wrong. For the most part though, Eula's quest was a decent presentation of a misunderstood hero.
Eula is just trying her best for Mondstadt, regardless of her family's heritage. That makes her a black sheep, of course, but nevertheless a necessary rebel. Meanwhile, cutscenes involving her combat prowess were top-notch.
5/20 Should You Be Trapped in a Windless Land – Venti
- Requires Adventure Rank 36
- Requires One Story Key
- Requires Trifolium Chapter Act 1: True Treasure
As far as backstories go, Venti has the most to tell in Mondstadt. We're simply fortunate enough to be graced with Venti's tales in his own story quest. In it, he reveals that he wasn't originally human and that he only assumes the bard form in honor of his rebel friend, who perished during their revolution against Decarabian.
At times, Venti's quest might seem to drag with the bar dialogue, but the payoff of knowing his origins and forming a bond with him is worth it. Besides, knowing more about an Archon in Genshin Impact is always an interesting activity.
4/20 Darknight Hero's Alibi – Diluc
- Requires finishing Prologue Act 3: Song of the Dragon and Freedom
Even the game pokes fun at how derivative Diluc's accidental title is, but he still owns it in both spirit and deeds. The quest involves chasing down the fabled Darknight Hero in Mondstadt until you discover that it is just Diluc.
Adding more excitement to the story is how Kaeya is also present in the quest to pester Diluc. This further builds their dysfunctional brotherhood and adds more dimension to their personalities. It certainly painted Diluc as an empathetic lone wolf and made his character more thematically pleasing.
3/20 Mighty Cyclops' Adventure! – Childe
- Requires Adventure Rank 40
- Requires One Story Key
- Requires finishing Chapter 1 Act 3: A New Star Approaches
- Requires finishing Fabulae Textile Chapter Act 1: Bookworm Swordsman
By all accounts, Childe Tartaglia should be a hated character, given how he threatened to kill everyone in Liyue by releasing Osial. However, his story quest redeems him a bit by showing him to be a good brother.
This quest certainly makes Childe more complex as he comes across as a stereotypical power-hungry and suave anime villain prior to this point. Moreover, the quest's dialogue and scenarios where Childe has to string along his Fatui lieutenants in his elaborate toymaker lie are just comedy gold.
2/20 Butterfly's Dream – Xiao
- Requires Adventure Rank 40
- Requires One Story Key
- Requires finishing Chapter 1 Act 1: Of the Land Amidst Monoliths
Butterfly's Dream is a dedicated quest for one of the most angsty and tortured characters in Genshin Impact, Xiao. Xiao typically shies away from affection or friendship due to his dark past.
As with any good story quest, Butterfly's Dream adds more layers to the character it features, and this one humanizes Xiao using food, particularly Almond Tofu. The story behind it is also sad as it's the only food Xiao can taste due to his troubled past. No wonder he's a fan favorite.
1/20 No Mere Stone – Zhongli
- Requires Adventure Rank 40
- Requires One Story Key
- Requires finishing Chapter 1 Act 4: We Will Be Reunited
Wedging in a new weekly boss in Genshin Impact is a tall order, but the developers managed it well when they included Azhdaha into Zhongli's follow-up story quest. It was a tale of Zhongli's past dealings with another god who now happens to be the new boss.
While Azhdaha's evil turn certainly makes for a complicated tale, everything in the quest itself is seamless, especially how it integrates well with Zhongli losing his Gnosis. Moreover, Zhongli drops some hints about what transpired with the Traveler's twin and how he's involved with it. Old god's clearly hiding something.
